Beneath the Wraps

  What ’ s the story behind a time when you got locked out?           I have come up with more situations than I care to admit.   The first one I thought about on Friday when Carolyn announced that she ’ d be ending the class ten minutes early as the lifeguards have a meeting at 10:00 and would like to start on time without having to wait for stragglers. When class was over, I strongly suggested that Richard get out as it seems to take him longer to dress.         Carolyn announced to the group that they were welcome to stay for five minutes before taking off.   She started heading to the deep end while the majority of the class headed towards the stairs at the shallow end and climbed out.   I then shared my first story with her. Story #1 I don ’ t know how many years ago it was, but my first “ locked out ” story is not really about getting locked out but rather getting “ locked in ...

                         The skies have appeared blue the last couple of days.   White clouds for the most part – though there was a large cloud of smoke billowing over the hills.   Evidently it moved on its way though I don’t know where.   One of the water fitness attendees comes from Winston.   She said she almost did not attend this morning because of the smoke (I don’t know which fire) but it was clear in Myrtle Creek.           Carolyn had us work out in the deep end as the wind continued to blow.   It made the class more spread out though there were only ten of us – five or six less than usual.   If all the regulars were to turn out at the same time, there would probably be over 25 of us.            I’ve been taking naps in the afternoon and am still tired.   Jaime and I tried to walk Bonnie just ...

 Jaime always manages to miss whenever we go to the pool on July 25.  Josh had always decorated for the first five years we had lived here but Sebastian did not.  Today I was surprised to see some parts decorated.  

  I used to work for a company that acted as a middle man between high end companies that would sell their product in bulk and ma and pa stores in which it was not practical to purchase items in bulk. Seems like a large number of our vendors were clothing stores in New York but every once in a while we would take on someone local.   Not that Parowan, Utah is local to Salt Lake but is nearer than New York.   I think there was a woman who created hats, perhaps baby clothes.   I don’t even recall weather her product even sold or not.   This terry cloth towel/tote bag was one of her creations.   She had sent this particular item as a sample.     I thought it was awesome!   A tote bag that doubled as a towel.   When winter came, I purchased the sample and have used it many times.   It’s a wonder I still have it and haven’t worn it out.   It’s been my pool companion since we first moved to Oregon.   I love it.   It ho...

  I suppose it’s my own fault for having a “not exactly stressful day” but “not the way I would have done it day” and it isn’t even afternoon yet.   What’s up with that? Pre-pandemic the Relief Society presidency would hold our meetings on Wednesday either at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. depending on whether I had accepted an assignment to work at the school.   Meetings were basically arranged according to my schedule.   Ahhh. Then came the pandemic.   It really didn’t matter what time or what day of the week our zoom meetings were.   Even before we had returned back to the two block meetings and held our meetings in person, we had somehow changed to Tuesdays at 10:00 am. which I hadn’t even thought about one way or another until just this very moment. Yesterday I went to the pool for the first time in almost two years.   It had rained before we left and Roland had tried to discourage us from going.   But I knew Carol would be there.   Rain ...

        The largest sized classes  take place in July.   By mid-August the number dwindles as there are several who are instructors and have already started their         “back to school”. There were only six of us in the pool yesterday.             Usually toward the end of class children will start staggering in for their swim lessons which follow our water fitness class.             There was no staggering and I wondered if maybe they had discontinued with the lessons as several life guards may be returning to school as well.           Then they came.   A heard of children entered just as our class was coming to an end. I guess that means summer is            coming to an end as well. I'...

            I had purchased a package of "Strap Perfect" as it was on clearance.   Jenna and I both seem to lack in the shoulder area.   I thought we could each have three, only three had already been removed from the package.   Perhaps that is why it was on clearance.   I recall Jenna breaking one trying to get her bra off.   I kept one for my swimsuit in the event that I ever misplaced my swim shirt which I did the entire month of August.               After Jenna started going to the pool with me last year, she had a suit that didn't fit quite right.   I don't remember what it even looked like or what was wrong with it.   Dottie had brought us a suit that she used to wear and had given it to Jenna.   Dottie was always thoughtful of others.             It was in ...

                After we had picked pears in Medford for the Church, we gleaned about four bags of pears for us to take home.   Roland took 24 pears to give to friends he had made at the theater, and   I took 18 to my friends.   Most of the pears were not ripe at the time.   We continued to pass them out to neighbors until they became too ripe.   It got to the point where we needed to do something - such as pear sauce or pear cake or something.   I made pear sauce last week.                 Roland is the one who loves to bake and cook.   I was disappointed that he didn't do more of it during his time off.   I prefer not being in the kitchen for a huge length of time.   But Roland has returned to work and more than just the pears have ripened - but bananas as well.   In addition t...

            Shortly after I started my schooling online, I made a list of all the required classes that I'd be taking.   Thus far there have been three assigned classes that were not on the list.   One of them is this one I'll be taking for the next four weeks.   I don't quite understand why it's been assigned to me - especially since I've already taken one that has a similar description.   I had received an email from the instructor on Sunday.   She is over the freshman and has presented a guideline for those who have never taken an online course before.   I am nearly a senior.   I think someone entered me into the wrong class as the description sounds very similar to one I recently just completed.  This is nuts.             The wind has changed and pushed the haze back into the skies and pushed our green back to yellow air q...

                Carolyn picked me up at 6:45 this morning.   I was happy to see misty clouds or fog hanging over the hills ahead of us, but from behind the appearance told us it was a hazy smoke.   From the pool, the skies gave the impression that it might rain, but to the north of us, there was also a musty haze covering the hills, trying to hide them as it had all of the blue that had been there last weekend.   What happened?             Two weeks ago after the smoke started to descend upon us, the haze made gave the sun the appearance of being blood red - like in this photo by Richard Bartz.  It was taken for an article for a station in Portland, I think.   The name of the article is Poor air quality could affect your dog or cat: Tips to avoiding respiratory stress in pets which you can find here .  ...

            During my entire lifetme, I don't recall having been invited into someone's circle to hang out because they really wanted me to.   Oh, there was the time when Crystal and Jennifer had invited me to hang out after elementary school - and seemed genuine about their request.   I couldn't imagine why they would invite me. But it was just the one time.   It never went anywhere.        For the first time that I can recall, I am now a part of a intimate circle of four.   They have requested my presence.   They would invite me even before they got to know Jenna - whom everybody loves.   They admire her.   She's fun and somehow I seemed to have made that reputation for myself   - that I, too, am fun to hang with.        Perhaps it's the state.   I was raised in Utah - small town that somehow grew bigger with every...